We've spent most of the last 20 years in Europe, the bulk of our time in Stockholm, Sweden. A year in London, England and a year in Paris, France have been ours to enjoy as well. Our US home is in Desert Hot Springs, CA where we have landed for the time being.

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Monday, July 24, 2017

We managed to fulfill another bucket list item yesterday by watching the finish of the Tour de France as the riders skittered down the Champs-Élysée and around the Tuileries and place de la Concorde for 8 laps as they ended their 3000 kilometer race!

We've been interested in the Tour for many years and even spent one summer holiday chasing it around some smaller towns. It is an admittedly funny 'spectator' sport as you wait for long periods of time for about 30 seconds of action! Still, the parade of vehicles and the riders themselves are thrilling to watch whiz by and in the case of the final laps in Paris, you do get to see them 8 different times.

We were very lucky to live about 15 minutes from the area where the riders would be riding so were able to simply walk over to a spot near the Concorde about an hour before the riders hit Paris. It wasn't as crowded as I had expected and we were able to secure a spot very close to the course. Jets flew over head releasing the colors of the France and it was a very festive environment. We even saw some of the floats that come through prior to the riders, a very fun part of watching the tour.

From our perch we could see the riders taking the turn off the Champs-Élysée, around the place Concorde and onto the quai de Tuileries where we were standing. The crowd noise would surge each time the riders appeared and the excitement was short-lived but intense! I was randomly snapping photos with my phone hoping to get a good one and I was able to secure a great photo of Christopher Froome, the winner, in his yellow jersey! Make no mistake, even after all of the tiding these guys had done, they were still peddling at a very rapid speed.

Best off all it was just super fun to be a part of something that is so important to France. And what a shame it would've been to sit in our apartment just a few minutes away and not bother to take in the atmosphere. I was texting with a friend in CA who was watching it on tv! That was pretty fun as she was giving us updates on the riders whereabouts while we waited.

We were nowhere near the podium where the awards were given and it would've been impossible to get there so we scurried home and watched the ceremony on television! All in all, it was indeed a thrilling day, filled with new memories that we will treasure from this season of life in Paris.

Monday, July 17, 2017

July 14: French National Day, Bastille Day, La Fête de la Fédération: All names for a big day of celebration in France. (If you click on the photos, you can see them in full frame.)

My favorite uniforms. I want one of those hats.

We were happy to be here to experience this national celebration. The first event of the day was the military parade that winds downs the magnificent Champs-Élysée. We live a mere 15 minute walk from the parade route so we figured we should get up and check out the happenings. At 8.30 a.m. streams of people were already finding their way for a 10.00 start time so we were glad to have arrived when we did. We were interviewed for French tv and a clip of me was on the news! Pretty funny. The parade itself kicked off when President Macron drove by in his own vehicle. We got a mere glimpse of him.

The parade was interesting, full of pomp and displays of military color and might. There were no bands so we listened to recorded music as the various uniformed French military paraded by. Some of the uniforms were magnificent to behold. I'm not a big military girl, but it was fun to experience France's display of the branches of their military.

The firemen got a big cheer. Those helmets glistened!

Once the big trucks and tanks began to roll through one had to admit that it was not a sight one sees on an ordinary day.

It also reminded me of times in France when the military presence was not so peaceful and of the great carnage that this nation suffered during the two world wars. The plane flyovers were the most magnificent of all and it was fun to watch the steady stream of jets flying in formation overhead. All in all, it was fun to be a part of these festivities.

We were pretty tired from the previous week so we just relaxed most of the day. We decided to take a walk around the Eiffel Tower around 6.00pm as we knew people would be gathering for the firework show that night. What a zoo that was. We were thankful that we had our own secret plan for viewing the fireworks that did not include fighting the thousands of people jockeying for position on the Champs du Mars.

A wonderful young woman who has been a terrific youth leader with us this year joined us at about 8.00 p.m. and around 10.00 p.m. we climbed the spire of the church. It's quite a straight uphill climb but once there, totally worth it. The view was magnificent and the sunset was unfolding and we knew that our perch was going to be perfect for the fireworks show. We popped a bottle of champagne, toasted to our life in France and waited for the spectacle to begin.

We were not disappointed. I have seen a lot of firework shows in my lifetime and this one was one for the ages. The interplay of the Eiffel Tower and the fireworks against the dark sky was a sight to behold. We were dazzled time and again by the beautiful artwork that dotted the sky.

Soon it was over and as we watched the masses scurry home, we simply climbed down the ladders and made our way to home. We all felt satisfied with the way in which we embraced living in France and celebrated Bastille Day in a very French way. Vivé la France. They celebrate well on their national day.

Saturday, July 1, 2017

We have just returned to Paris from Stockholm. It is still strange for me to leave Stockholm to go home somewhere else! But it was an amazing delight to return during the long, light days of summer in that beautiful city we called home for almost 17 years. After an oppressive heat wave in Paris, the cooler temps that drove me crazy when we lived there were a welcome respite from urban, humid heat. The quality of the air, the cleanliness of the water, the deep green of nature, and the calm of the city were all things that reminded me of all that is good about living Stockholm. One of the great gifts of returning to a place you've lived is that you are reminded of the things that kept you there with joy and delight and all of the stuff that bothered you or was hard fades deeply into the background leaving you with a treasure trove of warm memories that is pure gift.

Our trip was divided into distinct sections! The front end was spent with dear friends who have welcomed us into their home on countless occasions especially holidays and with whom we feel a very warm and familiar connection that includes their 3 adult children.

Being in their home is like coming home to a warm cocoon. Hospitality oozes from every corner and we are so thankful for the ways in which they embrace our comings and goings. Their home that sits close to a lake was a perfect place to start our journey! One of the evenings we had a gathering over delicious food that included a significant conversation regarding my Louisville Institute book project. The depth of conversation and insight was so inspiring and I feel I am now well on my way with my project. SO EXCITING.

We also shared a traditional Indian meal with our brother from another mother. They have moved to a new place that overlooks the sea so our waterside walk enabled us to take in the glorious sunset that put on quite the show that night.

The middle section of our trip was spent celebrating midsommar in the manner we had for years upon years with more extended family. What joy to re-live these weekends. It was cold, but not rainy. Doug swam on midsommar eve late in the evening after all of the dancing, eating, drinking and singing was done. It was too cold for me so I waited until the next morning when the sun was a bit warmer. All of the friends who we had gathered with over the years were there and it was as if we'd never left. Babies and spouses have been added along the way and it was a delight to see how these young ones are growing into responsible, beautiful adults.

We returned to Immanuel International for the first time in 2.5 years.

It wasn't weird. Didn't feel strange. We were warmly welcomed back with lots of love and appreciation, told we were missed but also understood that it was OK that we were no longer there. What a delight to enjoy the warmth and vibrancy of this lovely congregation.

The last stop was the archipelago and time by Baltic. We longed for our boat and our doggy but at least the family we were with had both! We enjoyed returning to the home that we called our summer home on the outskirts of Stockholm and took delight in the comfort of yet another place that wraps us in warmth and welcome. We motored out into the archipelago to spend one day and night with more dear friends who own the very best summer place in the world.

We have always enjoyed the days spent out here and this time there was no exception. The boat ride was beautiful and we arrived and got safely ensconced in the house before a raging thunder and lightening storm hit hard. But it blew through and gave way to a gorgeous evening. Late into the night I could not get my eyes off the horizon. The morning gave way to a gorgeous, warm morning so I took the chance to dip into the Baltic. I do miss swimming in the clear, clean, and yes, freezing cold waters of the Baltic. Everyone else thought I was crazy but I loved it. The boat ride back into Saltis was glorious and Doug and I both soaked in that beauty that dazzled our senses summer after summer in Stockholm.

Finally on our last day we held one more gathering of Immanuel folks to discuss my project and this was equally as fascinating and enlightening. Held at the home of a couple who met at Immanuel and eventually invited us to tie the knot for them, their hospitality overwhelmed us. Victoria's cooking is at the top of the my list and I just love being in her presence. She and Ingvar are filled with grace and openness and it was a delight to experience that once again. That night, we stayed up very late with a young couple who again, are like family to us, talking, laughing, sharing heart ache and joy.

Final day coffees with friends at the brand new Mall of Scandinavia, an epically huge and gorgeous US type mall, proved to be a perfect way to bring this trip to a close.

It's impossible to express what it's fully like to return to a place you loved and at times, drove you crazy through the years! We are both content that Stockholm is no longer our place of resident but we are also both fully convinced that there is a big Stockholm shaped place in our heart that is filled up with the beauty of the city but more importantly the beauty of the people with whom a deep love is shared.